Cavs can take a deep breath, Jarrett Allen can take a victor’s bow in the bright playoff lights – Terry Pluto

A photo of James Harden.

Facing playoff ghosts

In their biggest game of the season, the Cavs were at their best.

For most of this seven-game series vs. Toronto, it was as if the Cavs were playing the young, athletic Raptors – but also being haunted by old playoff nightmares.

There was a weight of great expectations and playoff failures for stars such as Harden and Mitchell.

The last three times Harden had played in a Game 7, his team lost. He averaged 12.8 points, shooting 28%.

Mitchell has made the playoffs in all nine of his NBA seasons. He has never survived the second round.

Then there’s Allen. The center admitted during the 2023 playoff loss to New York that, “the lights were too bright.” Allen was already being labeled “soft.” That led to even more attacks on his basketball fortitude.

If they had lost this game … this series … to the least experienced team in these playoffs …

No one with the Cavs wanted to think about it.

But they thought about it. They felt the pressure.

Cavs vs. Raptors Game 7, April 29, 2026

A basketball exorcism

The series went on and on. The Cleveland turnovers piled up. So did the old charges about the Cavs being talented, but fragile. After six games and 24 quarters, both teams not only were 3-3, but they also each had the same number of points.

Then they played the first half of Game 7, and the score was 49-49.

Finally, they broke loose in the second half. The Cavs didn’t just win, they had a little bit of a basketball exorcism.

While the final margin of victory was 12 points, that was deceiving. The Cavs were in total control in the final quarter.

Harden delivered a solid floor game, making only two turnovers. Before Sunday, he was averaging nearly six per game in the series.

He had 18 points as he drove to the rim, drawing fouls. He was 11-for-13 from the free-throw line.

Mitchell scored 22 points. He also was diving on the court – and even three rows into the seats – chasing loose balls. When your star does that, it sends the right proper urgent signal to the rest of the team about the importance of this game.

Then there was Allen …

Allen swatting shots …

Allen going to the rim with anger and dunking …

Allen throwing elbows under the boards for rebounds …

Allen on the floor in pursuit of loose balls.

In the most important game of the season, Allen not only was the best player on court for either team – he also reveled in the bright lights.

Finally, there was coach Kenny Atkinson. He was feeling the heat of this emotionally draining, tight series. Over and over, he talked about his team’s need to “play with force.”

On this night, the Cavs did just that.

“I’m glad we went through this (series),” said Atkinson. “It wasn’t fun, but we’ll be a better team because of it.”

Now, they can take a few more relaxed deep breaths until the next series begins Tuesday night in Detroit.

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